Two design students off to France
Following the development of the Newtown Precinct lighting project by
French lighting designer Patrick Rimoux, the French Institute of South
Africa and the Cultural Service of the French Embassy in Pretoria, in
partnership with the Technikon Witwatersrand and with the financial support
of Total South Africa, have organised for two students from the department
of Design at Technikon Witwatersrand (Johannesburg) to go on a three month
training course in Paris.
The students left Johannesburg on the 13th of September and will remain in
Paris until the 16th of December 2002. The three month training programme
will take place at Eclats Ltd which is run by Patrick Rimoux, the French
lighting sculptor, who was responsible for the new lighting design that is
in place in the Newtown Cultural Precinct.
The aim of the course is to allow the South African students, Zenzele
Sphelele Mthethwa and Kirsty Drummond, to start learning about
conceptualising and setting up lighting in public spaces, and will work
specifically on that aspect. It will also enable the students to discover
the day-to-day reality of a lighting design company. The training programme
has been put together by Patrick Rimoux and Amanda Venter (Witwatersrand
Technikon). Before leaving for France the students undertook six months of
French at the Alliance Fran�aise so as to assist them in the French speaking
country.
On their return to South Africa the students are expected to continue
working on the project developed by Patrick Rimoux in Johannesburg, in
agreement with the Johannesburg municipal authorities and the Johannesburg
Development Agency (JDA). They are expected to share the knowledge and
experience acquired in Paris with the other students in the design
department, in the role of tutor, and also participate if necessary, in
setting up of a training unit for lighting design techniques at the
Technikon Witwatersrand. They will also give a presentation on the jobs
performed during their training.
For more info. contact:
Riason Naidoo
Communications, French Institute of South Africa
Tel. 011 836 0561
Fax. 011 836 5850
E-mail: riason@ifas.org.za
